Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The 70th anniversary tribute to " Casablanca " is coming up on Wednesday, March 21,where it will be shown in 450 theaters across America, with at least one presentation at 7PM local time, with some venues adding an extra airing. Included will be an introduction by TCM movie host Robert Osborne.

In conjunction with this milestone, I pay special homage to 3 co-stars of the film, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid, and Peter Lorre.

One of Rains’ most dramatic role was as an unusual psychic whose paranormal gifts were only activated in the presence of a woman who loved him in 1934's "The Evil Mind"(aka "The Clairvoyant"), with co-stars Fay Wray and Jane Baxter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5KoDJggHH0

Perhaps Henreid’s most dramatic part careerwise was his nefarious dual role in 1948's "Hollow Triumph" (aka "The Scar") with co-star Joan Bennett where he scarred himself on the wrong side of his face in order to impersonate his clone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syn8QTPSQYE

Lorre delivered an absolutely edgy performance in his villianous role as LeChiffre in the very 1st version of "Casino Royale," aired in 1954 on TV's anthology series,"Climax." Barry Nelson(who died in 2007 at age 90) portrayed James "Jimmy " Bond. The 1st Bond Girl was portrayed by the late actress Linda Christian(who passed away in 2001 at age 87):